Genetic mapping of the F plasmid gene that promotes degradation of stable ribonucleic acid in Escherichia coli.

F+ Escherichi coli cells that contain an srnA mutant allele degrade their stable ribonucleic acid (RNA) extensively after RNA synthesis is blocked at 42 degrees C. The relevant gene promoting degradation of stable RNA, srnB+, or its promoter was mapped between 1.7 and 2.8 kilobases on the F plasmid by using deleted F' plasmids and chimeric plasmids composed of pSC101 and fragments of F plasmid.